Casting On and Casting Off: WIPs and fun!

I love having a day off, especially if I have the day to myself.   For me it’s a time to organize and get my ideas together for projects and that’s what I’ve been doing most of the morning.   I’ve casted on two projects over the weekend and  I’m looking forward to a bit of spinning today.

I casted on a pillow cover using my very own stash of handspun.  I love using handspun as it has a soft, earthy feel and just seems to echo the word “home” and “handmade”.

Project details:   My pillow cover is a simple basketweave stitch pattern that will be covering a 16″ x 16″ throw pillow.    I’ve casted on 75 stitches and working a pattern of k5, p5 for six rows and then p5, k5 for six rows.  This is really showing off the colors in my handspun and if I don’t have enough yardage for the complete project, I have a great piece of fabric I can use as a back to compliment the front.

Yarn:  200 yards of colorway Teddy Bear Picnic  BFL in 2 ply from Dyeing For Ewe.  I purchased this yummy fiber last summer and spun it up during Tour de Fleece.

Needle Size:  US size 11 (8.00 mm) straight needles

The second project that I casted on is Vorticity by Alice Yu, from her book, Socktopus.   I’m knitting this pair of socks for two KALs ,  the Springtree Road KAL and the Socktopus Book KAL.

Project Details:  This project is cuff-down and incorporates a simple lace stitch pattern that gives a slight way to the design.   Alice’s written instructions are very easy to follow, as well as the charted instructions for the pattern stitch.  I knit my socks with two circular needles and so far this pattern has adapted quite well.  I think I will do an anklet to mid-calve length.

Yarn:    1 skein of  Springtree Road Muscandine Sock Yarn  in Tanis, which is 460 yards (420 m) 4-ply fingering weight in a soft blend of 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon.

Needles:   2 circular needles 16″ size US  1½ (2.5 mm)

I’m very excited about Carina Spencer’s new design, Zuzu’s Petals.  This creative design is perfect to show off my handspun and it’s not a large project, so it should knit up pretty quickly.

All the style of a shawlette without the fuss of trying to keep it around your neck! This easy to wear cowl is designed to mimic the look of a shawl casually draped as a scarf. ~ Carina Spencer

Project Details:  This pattern has excellent written instructions, along with a chart for the lace stitch pattern.  Carina has written the pattern to include two sizes, small and large.  The small calls for approximately 220 yards of sport weight yarn and a size US US 5 or 6 (3.75 or 4mm) 20″ circular needle.  The large calls for approximately 155 yards of worsted weight yarn and a US 8 or 9 (5 or 5.5mm) 20″ circular needle.  Since I’m using my stash of handspun, I will be making the large.

Yarn:  260 yards of handspun blend of 75% BFL and 25% Tussah Silk from Springtree Road in the colorway Tumble.

Needles:  US 8 ( 5.0 mm) 20″ circular needle.

I’m hoping to have time to do a bit of spinning this week and want to start with a lovely 100% Romney in a dusky rose color.  I’ve never spun Romney fiber before, so this will be a new adventure.  I purchased this fiber last October at the Fiber Factory in Mesa, along with a few other colors.  I’m thinking that combined, they would make a great striped shawl!

Romney Fiber from the Fiber Factory

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!